The Day The Music Died

Yes, it's a line from the song, American Pie, and maybe even a cliche, but when Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and J. P. the Big Bopper Richardson's chartered plane went down in a cornfield shortly after takeoff, a bright light in our musical history went out as well.

Ritchie Valens, born Richard Valenzuela May 13, 1941, grew up in the San Fernando Valley listening to a combination of Mexican Mariachi, Flamenco and R&B. There were influences from both sides of the border and Ritchie loved them all. And even though Ritchie was left handed, he was so eager to learn to play guitar, he adapted and was soon performing for his friends at Pacoima Junior High School.

At 16, he joined a local band known as the The Silhouettes.

It was apparent that Ritchie had talent as a singer and guitarist - enough so to be approached by the president of Del-Fi Records, Bob Keane.

The name change came to broaden his appeal. Remember, this was the late 50s and unfortunately, we (as a people) tended to play down the ethnicity of a performer. And partly, to homogenize and make the performer a household name. In a sense, Ritchie Valens was a simplified version. Another case in point: Connie Francis was born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero. Armand Catalano became actor Guy Williams. Sure, easy to remember on the one hand, but how American sounding is that? What happened to America - the melting pot??

But I digress...

Ritchie's music was energized and there's no doubt he inspired future Latino performers - Los Lobos and Carlos Santana and Los Lonely Boys as well as Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. La Bamba, a Mexican folk tune became Ritchie's signature song- and for Ritchie - possibly the first Latino to cross over into mainstream rock and roll. He set the bar and I guarantee - no matter what you are doing or where you are, when you hear the first riffs of La Bamba, you can't help but smile and move to the beat and sing along to the lyrics.

I've included the lyrics to La Bamba as well as the tune itself:

Para bailar, la bamba
Para bailar, la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia pa'mí y pa' ti
Ay Arriba y arriba
Ay arriba y arriba por ti seré
Por ti seré
Por ti seré

Yo no soy marinero,
Yo no soy marinero,
Soy capitan
Soy capitan
Soy capitan

Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba, bam

Para bailar, la bamba
Para bailar, la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia pa'mí y pa' ti
Ay Arriba y arriba
Ay arriba y arriba por ti seré
Por ti seré
Por ti seré

Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
FADES
Bamba, bamba

I've also included Come On Let's Go for your listening enjoyment.

That fateful day, February 3, 1959, Valens, Holly, The Big Bopper and several other musicians were performing the Winter Dance Party tour. The next stop was Fargo, ND. The bus had broken down, winter conditions were taking a toll on everyone. (To some degree or another, several had colds or flu) Holly chartered a Beechcraft Bonanza that seated four. Waylon Jennings gave up his seat to Holly. Ritchie, who overcame a fear of flying won (or lost) the coin toss to take the plane.

To this day, I wonder just how far this talented young man would have gone, had he stayed in Iowa for the night. Ritchie Valens was a star and his memory still shines today and hopefully for generations to come.

I encourage everyone to view the movie La Bamba, starring Lou Diamond Phillips.

Also I've included some Youtube clips - a tribute to Ritchie Valens -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nVHaw-xYKA

And a performance by the Gipsy Kings -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4f75F1YbJ8&feature=related

And by Carlos Santana and Los Lonely Boys -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4COLJ5tBUr0&feature=related

And a clip from the movie -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YicJPLT1dWU&feature=related

And finally - the official Ritchie Valens website -
http://www.ritchievalens.com/

Next Time - The incomparable Luis Miguel!